Australia-Chile FTA

The Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement entered into force on 6 March 2009. It was Australia's fifth FTA and the first with a Latin American country.

The FTA covers goods, services and investment. From 1 January 2015, all tariffs were eliminated except sugar, which retains a tariff of six per cent for Australian exports due to Chile’s price-band system. Since its entry into force there has been a significant increase in Australian companies operating in Chile to over 120. Many of these companies have expanded their business beyond Chile and into Latin America more broadly.

Key interests and benefits

Elimination of almost 92 per cent of tariff lines covering 97 per cent of merchandise trade upon entry into force

Elimination of tariffs on all existing merchandise trade from 1 January 2015

National treatment for Australian goods, services and suppliers in the Chilean market for procurements above agreed value thresholds.

Locks in both sides' liberal services and investment regimes.

Locks in both sides' high standards of IP protection for patents, trademarks, geographical indications and copyright.